章節 328: Chapter 487
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The first divisions of Runcandel and Kinzelo, who did not come to the Gaifa Archipelago, all set up camp in the Sota Desert while Jin was meeting Amela.
Just as Joshua used the power of a prophet to form tunnels in the desert, members of Kinzelo also used their abilities to create a scouting tunnel and secretly used some of Joshua's tunnels.
Jin's gaze fell upon the head of the deceased shipyard manager.
The cut surface on the neck was messy, as if it had been torn apart. It was far from suitable for infiltration and assassination.
'Furthermore, it's quite a distance away, and yet the commotion is significant. It's not an incident that happened on the spot during infiltration; it was a direct attack on the shipyard.'
It seemed that members of Kinzelo had decided to approach the secret shipyard in the Sota Desert in a completely different way than Runcandels.
'Why would members of Kinzelo dare to act with such audacity? They must have a solid reason for this.'
The Sota Desert is adjacent to Drakka, the capital of the Lutero Magic Federation.
That's why Runcandels choose this method of infiltration. But members of Kinzelo were boldly stirring up the most dangerous beehive in the world.
"There is no way our information was leaked, but they started their operation at the same time... Is it just an unfortunate coincidence?"
As Jin began to ponder, Joshua gritted his teeth and scowled.
Kuzzz, Boom-! Thud! Bam!
Joshua's words were suddenly drowned out by a deafening explosion as if they were waiting for the Runcandels. The vibrations were so intense that it felt like the tunnel might collapse at any moment.
For instance,
It seemed that Runcandel's plan had completely backfired. The blaring alarm from the defensive magic, ringing like crazy amid the deafening sound of the explosion, was getting on their nerves.
Jin had been calculating ways to kill Joshua and succeed in his mission since last night. However, Kinzelo's sudden act of terrorism was unexpected.
'But perhaps, this turn of events might not be that bad. At least not for me and my elder brother Diphus.'
Jin was confident that Joshua had 'information about this mission that he did not share with him and Diphus.'
As he had told Diphus earlier, the 4th, 11th, 17th, and 19th sections marked on the interior map of the shipyard were meaningless.
'Joshua probably believed that either I or elder brother Diphus would naively choose one of those sections to investigate. He must think that we had no choice but to do something, even if it meant destroying the shipyard anyway. And he would try to take advantage of the chaos to sneak off on his own to the real location with valuable information.'
Jin had assumed that the location of the information that Joshua was trying to monopolize was '2nd Magic Tower'.
Drakka was not the only place near the Sota Desert shipyard. Not too far away, there was also Zipfel's "2nd Magic Tower."
Of course, it was only a guess that Joshua was trying to monopolize information about the 2nd Magic Tower.
That's why, when the infiltration began, Jin had planned to keep an eye on Joshua with the help of Diphus. He would intentionally mention the 2nd Magic Tower or focus the search on the part of the shipyard closest to it.
'There's a low chance that Zipfel has prepared for infiltration all the way to the 2nd Magic Tower, considering how close Drakka is. It's hard to believe that either we or Kinzelo would dare to meddle with the 2nd Magic Tower. Both of us would have more than enough on our hands just with destroying the shipyard…'
Ah!
The moment Jin thought that far, he felt a shiver run down his back.
'Perhaps there's no need to keep an eye on Joshua; it's definitely the 2nd Magic Tower. The members of Kinzelo are trying to draw the attention of the forces of the 2nd Magic Tower and lure them into the shipyard, and then rob the empty house!'
That is the reason why Kinzelo is blatantly terrorizing the shipyard.
They were aware that the truly important data was not inside the shipyard but outside, specifically within the 2nd Magic Tower.
Furthermore,
'Damn you Kinzelo bastards! Are they also aware that part of the battleship blueprints exists in the 2nd Magic Tower, not in the shipyard?'
Joshua was also thinking along the same lines.
However, unlike Kinzelo, who was confidently destroying the shipyard, he felt a chilling sensation in his bones.
'It can't be a coincidence that they started the terror act right during our infiltration time! Information about our operation and the 2nd Magic Tower must have leaked, although I don't know the exact route….'
Joshua had originally planned to entrust Jin, Murakan, and Diphus with the task of distracting Zipfels like what members of Kinzelo were doing right now, while he seized the chance to move towards the 2nd Magic Tower.
The underground shipyard was vast, so he thought that it would not be that difficult to deceive his brothers and Murakan.
So, when he confirmed that it was Jin and Murakan who came yesterday instead of Mary, he inwardly rejoiced. But now, the situation has taken a turn for the worse!
Amidst the distant explosions and the silence that followed, the attention of Runcandels' focused on Joshua.
It was an unspoken pressure for him to make a judgment, as the highest decision-maker in this matter.
He felt anxiety at the fact that members of Kinzelo outmaneuver him, the pressure to reevaluate all his moves from the beginning, and the emotionless face of his youngest brother right in front of him.
Due to these factors, Joshua could barely keep his composure.
'First of all, I must remain calm. If I show even the slightest hint of panic, Jin will surely pick up on it. He's not one to miss a scent, no doubt about it.'
No matter how cautious he was, Jin was already reading Joshua's innermost thoughts. Joshua hadn't realized it, not even in his dreams.
And it wasn't just Joshua whose insides were burning.
'Given the scale of Kinzelo's terror attack, the mission of destroying the shipyard is practically over. Moreover, as the youngest said, the importance of the four sections that Joshua claimed was just a trick to deceive me and the youngest, so it is right for Joshua to make the decision to retreat now....'
Diphus also felt his mouth becoming dry as he recalled the conversation he had with Jin last night.
-I mentioned earlier that there wouldn't be anything important in the 4th, 11th, 17th, and 19th sections, didn't I?
-That's right. Given that Zipfel deliberately leaked the location of the shipyard, there's no way they'd leave crucial data like battleship blueprints here.
-But there must be important data somewhere near the shipyard. Most likely in Drakka. But we can't rob that place, so the most likely place is the Second Magic Tower.
-So what you're saying is that the really vital information is in the Second Magic Tower, and Joshua is pretending to infiltrate the shipyard with us while planning to gather information from the Second Magic Tower alone?
-Yes.
-Hmm, let's assume you're right. And our eldest brother is undoubtedly a piece of trash, but he's not such a fool as to jeopardize the clan's interests for personal gain. Just recently, he used the media to support you during the Black Kings incident.
-You're right. However, for Joshua to extract information from the Second Magic Tower securely, it might be better to deceive us as well, don't you think?
-That's possible. But, Jin, your argument is based on possibilities, not concrete evidence. It's just a speculation. And even if that speculation were true, what does it have to do with killing Joshua?
-When Joshua will go to the Second Magic Tower, he won't take both Black Knights with him. At least one Black knight has to stay in the shipyard for the purpose of deceiving us and gaining time. However, we will also go to the Second Magic Tower without Joshua's knowledge. After all, only one Black Knight is left in the vast underground shipyard.
-And attack Joshua who is with only one black knight?
-We will attack him after he gets the information from the Second Magic Tower. If we're lucky, both of the Black Knights will be left behind in the shipyard. So, he might be alone.
-What if there is still a Black Knight with Joshua at the Second Magic Tower?
-But since Murakan is there, we can easily kill him.
-No, I'm asking how we plan to deal with the Black Knight. Subduing him without killing is impossible for us even if Lord Murakan is with us. Also killing a Black Knight is a different problem than dealing with Joshua.
-Well, that's more like an act of treason than a war of succession.
-It is not even close. Kill the Black Knight while carrying out such an important mission? That is definitely treason. I'm getting disappointed because there are too many variables in your speculations. I thought you were holding a strong hand.
-It's the assassination of the second flagbearer of Runcandel. Moreover, he's known as the next patriarch. If you can't even handle this level of risk, you can't do anything for the rest of your life. Even such a dangerous opportunity may never come again.
-Whoa.
-And I have no intention of killing the Black Knight. I never thought my second brother would be this scared, but please, if you want to quit, go ahead.
-...For now, after infiltrating, let's search the area closest to 2nd Tower to assess Joshua's intentions.
Diphus was trying to suppress his restless thoughts since he had this conversation yesterday.
The disappointment he felt for his youngest brother, who was determined to kill Joshua with weak speculations, and the sense of desperation that made him want to jump aboard a flimsy ship, were overwhelming.
'But if Joshua chooses to continue the mission rather than a retreat, then... it means Jin's speculation was true...!'
Unlike Joshua and Diphus, Jin cleared his confused mind and was already calculating new variables.
'Kinzelo, those sons of bitches have helped me again. You're going to choose to enter, Joshua. You might want to die from frustration, but as elder brother Diphus says, you won't give up the clan's significant interests.'
Jin concealed a smile.
It was not yet a complete victory, as the speculation was merely becoming true.
"Oh, it's so frustrating. Hey!"
Suddenly, Murakan shouted at Joshua with an indignant tone.
"Aren't you the one with decision-making authority? Make a decision quickly. Are you going to continue the mission or not? Why are you just standing there stupidly? Come on, I'm busy! If we are going to retreat, let's retreat quickly. I want to see strawberry pie."
Joshua had no choice but to respond in this way.
"…We will continue the mission."
Thump!
The moment Diphus heard the decision, he felt his heart pounding like a drum.
He was shocked. He couldn't gauge how far Jin had been thinking ahead.
'Yes, I was just suspicious for no reason. I can kill Joshua as long as I follow Jin's moves!'
Once again, Jin was keenly aware of Diphus's disappointment turning into anticipation. He couldn't help feeling a bit sorry.
'How disappointed he will be once he finds out that the current Joshua is not the real one. I feel a little guilty.'
章節 329: Chapter 488
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Jin, Murakan, Diphus and Joshua lifted the masks hanging around their necks.
Boom! Bam!
Only a minute or so had passed, but the noise and vibration of the battle had already grown significantly.
Now that the decision was made, they had to get in as quickly as possible even by a second. Drakka and the 2nd Magic tower would provide immediate support.
"However, since the situation has changed, we will skip regrouping after collecting internal information and disperse immediately upon entry to confirm 4th, 11th, 17th, and 19th sections. The Black Knights and I will take care of 4th and 11th sections, while 4th and 12th flagbearers will handle 17th and 19th sections."
The 4th and 11th sections were relatively further from the 2nd magic tower compared to 17th and 19th sections. Joshua was also extremely cautious. Even in such a situation, he wanted to ensure that Jin and Diphus were unaware of the 2nd magic tower as much as possible.
"Either secure the battleship's blueprints or destroy the most important resources, and return to the main house alive. Also, prioritize escape in case you are likely to be captured or killed by the enemy. All other decisions are left to your discretion."
"Understood."
Joshua extended his fist to Jin and Diphus. The two of them briefly looked at his fist and lightly bumped it.
"I wish you good luck, younger brothers."
"As we live, the day when my eldest brother wishes me good luck has finally come. Well, let's have a celebratory drink you decided to give to Jin when we all return safely."
"Good luck, 2nd flagbearer."
First, Joshua and the Black Knights entered the shipyard beyond the tunnel. Jin, Murakan, and Diphus watched their backs for a moment.
"Ha! Kid, if you hadn't poked me in my side, I could have turned his jaw around without a doubt. Did he speak to me informally just because I give him a hard time for making a decision quickly? Someone like a 2nd flagbearer? Many people died at the hands of this Murakan, indeed. I think of that every time something like this happens. He didn't even wish me luck."
"Oh, well, I appreciate your patience."
"Lord Murakan, that guy's head will fall off his body before dawn anyway."
"Right, he's as good as dead."
"Jin, I take back what I said about being disappointed yesterday. You were right all along. Kinzelo went beyond our expectations, but still."
There was no need to keep an eye at Joshua anymore, but they still had to properly assess the situation after entering.
'I need to calculate when Kinzelo will make its move on the 2nd Magic tower. It is a problem if I go too fast or too slow compared to them. However, I must enter later than Joshua.'
The key was to take advantage of the competition between Kinzelo and Joshua at the 2nd Magic tower.
Now, it was time for quick thinking and adaptability.
"Reinforcements will arrive within 30 minutes at the latest. They might have already arrived."
Even if the dragons were flying to the location, it would still take a minimum of 30 minutes to reach the Sota Desert.
"If that cubic thing you mentioned is here too, it's possible."
Spatial-time device. The unidentified cubic object that Midor Elnor used in Gaifa Archipelago.
Jin had shared information about it with Diphus in advance. Since the survivors of Gaifa Archipelago had witnessed the Spatial-time device themselves, there was no significance to keep it secret.
"I think there's a high possibility it's in the shipyard as well. While Joshua was here, he might have received information related to it from elder brother Vigo or our mother, so it's best to assume that he is aware and taking action."
Zipfel was also aware that the other three major factions knew about the Spatial-time device, so there was no need to hide it.
The reason why Sandra Zipfel was so angry when Midor Elnor used the device for revenge in Gaifa Archipelago was because it should have been revealed at a more critical moment, such as when directly striking Runcandel's main house or when forcing one of the major factions to surrender. Midor believed that he could kill Jin and his enemies and leave no evidence behind.
"Anyway, we'll have to join forces with Kinzelo for a while."
After entering, Jin decided to slaughter the Zipfels with Kinzelo first, instead of going to the sections assigned by Joshua.
"We need to deal with as many as possible, especially those from the 2nd Magic Tower."
"I guess that way we can reduce the number of troops returning after we enter the 2nd Magic Tower, right? If there is a cube in the 2nd Magic Tower."
As Diphus responded, it was necessary to reduce Zipfel's forces as much as possible because of the cube.
Kinzelo was well aware of this fact, which was why they were conducting such a large-scale terror operation. It wasn't just about securing an easy entry into the 2nd Magic tower.
"That's right."
"Oh, my head hurts! So, kid, in summary, you're saying we should just go in and kill all the Zipfels?"
"That's correct, but don't reveal your true form, and conserve your strength. If they find out that you and I are here, the level of reinforcements may change. Anyway, let's start making our way in."
The tunnel led to the 6th section of the shipyard.
As they entered, the first thing they saw was the collapsed facility, flames raging in various places, and Red tigers slaughtering managers with a sinister, mocking laughter, as if they were third-rate villains.
"Die, you wretched humans!"
"As of today, this place is under the control of Kinzelo!"
"Pl-please spare us!"
Jin and his group hid between the devices, pillars, and pipelines, watching them for a moment. It seemed that Joshua and his group had already moved elsewhere.
'Zipfels are impressive.'
Despite the destruction and the fire, seeing the underground shipyard for himself, Jin couldn't help but be amazed. The 6th section alone was filled with countless components and mechanical devices.
At first glance, it seemed like there were dozens of identical components. That means that at least that number of mass-produced battleships were being made.
"I was deeply shocked when I first saw it in person. Even if these are the battleships with half the power of Kozec, if they are mass-produced like this, the world will soon be completely under Zipfel's control."
Diphus whispered as he read Jin's thoughts.
"There's nothing to be so scared of, Diphus Runcandel. I destroyed that finished product in one breath."
Unlike Murakan, who snorted, Jin felt somewhat distraught.
'I need to analyze the spatial-time device as soon as possible when I return. I don't know about Kozec, but the clan must acquire mobile summoning device technologies, or any means that can counter them.'
One of the reasons Murakan was able to destroy Kozec-2 in a single breath in the Gaifa Archipelago was that his strength had recovered to 50 percent.
The level of the mages on the battleship was relatively low. The engine of the battleship was influenced by the mana and magic of its passengers.
If the mages on board that mass-produced battleship were at the level of Spectres or the elite mages of Zipfel, the outcome might have been different.
A heavy weight pressed on his chest, as if a boulder was crushing it.
'...There's no need to be impatient. We'll catch up. We must.'
If he could recover all of Temar's legacy, and if he could lift the curse engraved in the clan's blood. If he could restore the former glory of the Runcandel.
"By the way, it is strange that Joshua and the Black Knights had no idea that the information was leaked."
"You mean operation time? I don't think it's a coincidence that Kinzelo started the terror attack right now. That said, I don't think there's a spy among the Black Knights Joshua brought. He would be extremely cautious about potential information leaks."
"Could there have been a spy among the enforcement knights?"
"No, impossible. Even if there was one, nobody among the enforcement knights knew the exact timing of the operation. The control was carried out perfectly."
"Joshua couldn't have leaked it directly, so it means that someone stole the information at the barracks while avoiding the guard of Joshua, your, and the two Black Knights."
"Joshua always kept the operation plan with him. It's almost impossible. Moreover, he never spends time alone, and even when he sleeps, at least one Black Knight is always with him. It seems as if he was haunted by some kind of ghost...."
Diphus suddenly stopped talking, as if something had just crossed his mind.
At that moment, Jin and Diphus were both thinking of the same name.
"Could it be?"
"Yona...?"
Yona Runcandel.
There were only a handful of people in this world who could do such a thing, the greatest without question was Yona.
The two of them thought of their youngest sister at the same time and felt an inexplicable chill.
"No, hold on. It can't be Yona. If Yona were involved in this matter, it would only be if Mother personally entrusted the request to the Nameless. But does Mother have a reason to keep that fact hidden from Joshua?"
Due to time constraints, it was not impossible for Jonah to come here as well.
But Jin believed that if his youngest sister had known the information about the shipyard, she would have given a warning when she came to see Tikan.
"No, she wouldn't."
"...In that case, is it Sir Owal, Nameless King?"
"I think if anyone from the Nameless is involved, it would be the Nameless King rather than elder sister Yona. I believe Mother wouldn't have commissioned this, but Kinzelo would have asked the Nameless for help."
"Right, whether it's a commission or something else, it wouldn't make sense for Yona to be used by the Nameless to steal information from Runcandel. If Sir Owal and the top assassins from the Nameless are involved, that would explain it roughly."
Of course, this was not a definitive conclusion. It would make sense as long as they left no traces, but even so, the Nameless, who had been maintaining neutrality, had few reasons to intervene in such a sensitive matter.
"Hmm. Even if the Nameless was involved, it's unlikely they'd get more involved in this matter. In the end, it's not a bad situation for us, so we don't need to worry too much about it."
"That's correct. They probably only handed over the operation information to Kinzelo and then withdrew. Let's head to the 17th section and the 2nd Magic tower for now. We should assess the situation in other sections as we go."
The group began to move, leaving behind the sight of the Red Tigers massacring the managers in the 6th section of the shipyard.
'But it seems a bit strange. Could it really be her...? No, it can't be, right? It's probably a trick. Even if she came, as elder brother Diphus said, she has probably already returned to Samil. She would have just passed on information to Kinzelo.'
Despite his unease, Jin opened his senses and observed his surroundings more carefully. However, there was nothing out of the ordinary.
Jin could not even think in his dreams that a woman was smiling and watching him.
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